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For the Fourth Straight Year, CWU Named Military-Friendly School By G.I. Jobs Magazine

ELLENSBURG, Wash. (October 3, 2012) — For the fourth consecutive year, Central Washington University has been named a military-friendly school by Victory Media in its 2013 edition of its G.I. Jobs magazine (www.gijobs.com). The veteran-owned company, based in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, has posted its list of the top 15 percent of colleges, universities, and trade schools nationwide that provide the most comprehensive services and aid to military veterans at www.militaryfriendlyschools.com/.

“As interest in education grows we’re thrilled to provide the military community with transparent, world-class resources to assist in their search for schools,” said Sean Collins, director for G.I. Jobs and vice president of Victory Media. “A school’s inclusion on the 2013 list of military-friendly schools shows commitment to providing a supportive environment for military students.”

The magazine noted that CWU was among the schools doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans, and spouses as students and ensure their success on campus. CWU is a member in good standing of the National Association of Veterans’ Program Administrators and the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs Partners for Veterans Supportive Campuses.

For the first time, the results of this year’s survey, of more than 12,000 US Department of Veterans Affairs-approved schools nationwide, were independently verified by the accounting firm Ernst & Young LLP, based on Victory Media weightings and methodology.

During the current academic year, the number of new veterans enrolling at Central has increased by about 28 percent from last fall quarter, according to John Swiney, CWU associate vice president of Enrollment Management.

CWU recently hired Reuben Cardenas as the university’s Veteran’s Center outreach recruiter to work alongside center manager Susie Beador. CWU’s Office of Veterans Affairs is designed to create a veteran friendly atmosphere, help student veterans transition smoothly from military to student life, and increase collaboration between campus and community organizations. The Veteran’s Center is a one-stop shop for CWU veterans assistance programs, such as academic advising, veteran certification, program and career planning, transitional services, and related programs.

“We want to see more veterans enroll and continue their education here at Central, as a way to increase the overall number of veterans receiving degrees,” said Beador.

The CWU Veteran’s Center receives about 750 requests annually from veteran students seeking information about CWU. Qualifying veterans, who are Washington residents and show financial need, are eligible to receive a $1,500 CWU grant. To find out more about veteran educational opportunities at Central, visit www.cwu.edu//veterans.

CWU also has award-winning Army and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs. More information is available about CWU’s Army ROTC programs at www.cwu.edu/army or CWU’s Air Force ROTC program at www.cwu.edu/airforce.

One of the university’s most prominent alumni is US Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis, a 1971 graduate, who now is commander of United States Central Command. CWU President James L. Gaudino is also a graduate of the US Air Force Academy and served in Turkey and Germany.